Multi-storied building structures



Jan. 4, 1966 c. N. DEBES 3,226,889

MULTI-STORIED BUILDING STRUCTURES Original Filed Jan. 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet l A,FIG.AI

CHARLES N. DEBES INVENTOR ATT) Jan. 4, 1966 c. N. DEBES 3,225,889

MULT ISTORIED BUILDING STRUCTURES Original Filed Jan. 9, 1961 5 Sheecs-Sheet 2 FIG.3

CHARLES N. DEBES INVENTOR Jan. 4, 1966 c. N. DEBES 3,226,889

MULTI-STORIED BUILDING STRUCTURES Original Filed Jan. 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 CHARLES N. DEBES INVENTOR 5 ATTY Jan. 4, 1966 c. N. DEBES 3,226,889

MULTI-STORIED BUILDING STRUCTURES Original Filed Jan. 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 CHARLES N. DEBES INVENTOR j EQ b A?"r 1 Jan. 4, 1966 C. N. DEBES MULT I-STORIED BUILDING STRUCTURES Original Filed Jan. 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 CHARLES N. DEBES Q 2VENTR Unted States Patent 3,226,889 MULTI-STORIED BUILDING STRUCTURES Charles N. Debes, 1841 E. State St., Rockford, Ill. Continuation of application Ser. No. 81,569, Jan. 9, 1961. This application July 20, 1964, Ser. No. 392,062 7 Claims. (Cl. 5230) This application is a continuation of my copending application, Serial No. 81,569, filed January 9, 1961, now abandoned.

This invention relates to new and improved multistoried buildings, with a view to improved utiliztion of the greatest amount of outdoor and indoor space while still obtaining a pleasing appearance both externally and internally.

The salient feature of my invention is the achievement of an articulated exterior of striking but pleasing appearance by the method of constructing alternate floors of an otherwise regular polygonal-shaped building (triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, or more sided) in the same angularly offset relation to intermediate floors so as to provide the articulated exterior by reason of the array of vertically aligned projecting corners of alternate floors in angularly offset relation to vertically aligned projecting corners of intermediate floors, these projecting corners defining balconies or loggias on all sides of the building on their tops while each projecting comer portion also provides on the bottom thereof a roof or ceiling over the next balcony or loggia therebelow.

These balconies or loggias are integral with the building and not merely appendages thereon. The angularity of ofsetting for the articulated effect is determined by the mathematical expression of 360 divided by 2S degrees,

where the S equals the number of sides on a floor. Thus, for example, in the case of a four-sided square building, the alternate floors are offset 45, thereby providing four triangular balconies on each floor. The balconies are not merely ornamental, but are actually quite useful because of the overhead protection afforded for each balcony, this arrangement also lending itself toeasy enclosure of the individual terraces with screens or jalousies if complete weather protection is desired.

The staggered arrangement of the floors described, I have found, reduces waste space for such items as corridors to a minimum when the utility core containing elevators and stairwells is centrally arranged, and this central location of the utility core gives the added advantage that all rooms, offices, or apartments around it have substantially the same easy access to said core.

A further feature of my invention is the projecting sun shades and walkways in the form of a cantilever projection surrounding each floor which not only improves the external appearance of the structure because ofits accenting the design generally, but serves as a catwalk enabling the more eflicient servicng of the exterior of the building as, for example, inthe washing of windows, painting, and so forth, thereby reducing the cost of maintenance considerably while reducing the risk of accidents in the performance of maintenance work, and thus meriting lowered insurance costs. v

The invention is illustrated in the ings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the tower portion of abuilding embodying my invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same structure; FIGS. 3 and4 are -what should be considered typical horizontal sections although these are taken on lines 33 and 44 of FIG. l, respectively;

FIGS. 3a and 4a are views related to FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, designed to emphasize the novel construction, these views omitting any showing of floor plan;

accompanying draw- 3,226,889 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 but showing rounded corners on each square floor plan;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views similar to FIGS. 5 and 6 but showing beveled corners;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 but showing the application of my invention to a pentagonal shaped building;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing enclosures on the balconies between the railing thereof and the bottoms of the projecting comer portious on the next floor above, and 7 FIG. 12 is a side view of a building having two towers on it, both of the type disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 4 and 12, the, reference numeral 13 indicates generally the tower portion, or one of the tower portions, embodying my invention, inasmuch as a community apartment or office building, for example, like that illustrated at 14 in FIG. 12, having the lower or base portion designed for business purposes and of one,

portion thereof, as a deck or patio readily accessible to occupants of rooms, apartments, or ofices in the tower or towers 13, elevators in the tower or towers, of course, being accessible from the ground level 16 in the building 14 therebeneath. A typical floor plan for alternate floors 17 in this structure 13 is shown in FIG. 3, and a typical floor plan for intermediate floors 18 is shown in FIG. 4. In both, the utility core 19 is illustrated at the center, 20 being the elevator shafts, and 21 the stairwells. At C are indicated corridors leading to the central hallway 22 from which access may be had to theelevators or stairs from rooms, apartments, or ofiices opening ofi' the corridors, as indicated by the door openings 23. Those desiring comer rooms, apartments, or offices, indicated at 24, because of the good view obtained in opposite directions by reason of the extent of projection of the corners would, of course, have to pay a higher purchase price or rental than those having rooms away from the corners, like the ones ndicated at 25, each of which has a view only in one direction. Similar premiums are payable by those occupying rooms, offices, or apartments indicated at 26 that open through French doors, or the like, indicated at 27 onto the triangular balconies or loggas 28. Thus, in a foursided or square building 13, four choice corners 24 are obtained on each floor, and four balconies or loggias 28 are provided, which make for from four to eight other choice tenant locations per floor, depending on how many rooms, oflices, or apartments are provided per balcony. All tenants have nearlythe same easy access to the elevators 20 or stairs 21, dueto the central location of the core 19. It is important to emphasize, too, that, due to my novel construction, emphaszed in FIGS. 3a and 4a, the

triangular balcony or loggia projections 28 are integral parts of the building 13, not merely appendages, as are at ceiling level to define overhanging triangular roof portions 30 for the uppermost four balconies 28. Otherwise, the triangular bottoms 31 of the triangular comer projections of the building define overhead sheltering roots for the next balconies 28 vertically therebeneath. Horizontally projecting sunshades in coplanar relationship to the bottoms 31 of the triangular corner projections of the building provide catwalks 33 all around each floor for convenence and safety in the work of washing windows, painting, pointing up mortar, or for any other maintenance purposes on the buildings exterior, for reduced cost of maintenance and lower insurance premiums. In FIGS. 3a and 4a, I have designated the bottoms or floors of each story F and the side walls S.

Where year around or just seasonal enclosures, such as screens, storm windows, jalousies, or the like are desired for the balconies or loggias Z8, the present design makes that an easy addition, as indicated at 34 of building 13a in FIG. 11, the floors 35 of these balconies 23a being of an interior type, the same as elsewhere inside the building, as contrasted With the tlle or other exterior type floors 36 of the balconies 28 of building 13, adapted for exposure to the weather. Otherwise the design and construction of FIG. 11 is the same as the one above described, except that the bottoms 31 of the projecting comer portions of the building, being interior, will be finished the same as the ceilings inside the building 13a.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the building 13b illustrated by two successive floors 17b and 18b, it will be understood is otherwise the same as building 13 or 13a, but all of the projecting corners 35 of this building are rounded, instead of being square. This also gives a pleasing and interesting elfect.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the building 13c illustrated by two successive floors 170 and 180, it will be understood is otherwise the same as building 13, or 13a, or 13b, but all of the projecting corners 35a of this building are beveled, instead of being square or rounded. This also gives a pleasing and interesting effect.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a pentagonal building 13d having succeeding floors 17d and 18d offset according to the same formula mentioned above, providing corners 24d and balconies 28d, the projecting corners 24d of one floor providing sheltering roofs or ceilings on the bottoms thereof for balconies therebelow and providing balconies on the tops thereof. While sharp corners 36 are shown in this form, it should be understood that rounded corners may be provided, as at 35 in FIGS. 5 and 6, or beveled corners, as at 35a in FIGS. 7 and 8. Also, while exposed balconies are shown at 28d, the balconies may be enclosed, as at 34 in FIG. 11, and while no utility core 19 is shown in any of the six views, FIG. 5 to FIG. 10, it will be understood that the core 19 is located centrally in buildings l3b, 130 and 13d, the same as in buildings 13 and 13a.

Referring again to FIGS. 11 and 12, attention is called to the vertical columns 36 in all of the corners which extend the height of the building and provide supports for all of the triangular projections in lieu of the cantilever support described. This construction would mean a substantial reduction in the overall cost inasmuch as it would enable greatly reducing the size of beams required, without materially aecting the general external appearance of the building, whether the balconies are exposed as in FIG. 12 or enclosed as in FIG. ll.

While it is contemplated that these columns 36 will be used in lieu of cantilever beam support for the comer projections, it is conceivable that columns of reduced section may be used in combination with cantilever beams of reduced section, where the columns 36 merely augment or supplement the cantilever beam support.

In closing, while admittedly there will be some additional heat loss because of the rotation of the floor elements to form the projecting corners and balconies, it is of a very minor character, in the order of 6% to 7% increase, the loss being kept so low because of the well insulated floor and ceiling construction of the living arcas under the terraces. The increase in heat loss is truly a small itern when considering the fact that there will actually be approximately additional Usable floor space in the form of open terraces available to the residents.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate mcdifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. A multi-story building structure composed of a utility core centrally disposed with respect to all stories and including elevators and stairways, a plurality of superimposed stories each of identical equilateral, equiangular polygonal plan configuration, alternate stories having vertical outer side walls in coplanar relationship, intermediate stories having vertical outer side walls also in coplanar relation but in planes in angular relation to the planes of the side walls of the alternate stories, the angularity of ottsetting for an articulated effect being determined by the mathematical expression 360/23, wherein S equals the number of sides per story, whereby to provide in each story equal triangular projecting comer balcony portions with the projecting triangular comer balcony portions of alternate stories in vertical registry throughout the height of the structure and the projecting triangular comer balcony portions of intermediate stories likewise in vertical registry.

2. A multi-story building structure as defined in claim 1 wherein vertical load carrying columns extend the full height of the multi-story structure in registry with the apex of each angle of each of the stories thereof.

3. A multi-story building structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said balconies are enclosed between the overhanging triangular corner balcony portions of alternate floors.

4. A multi-story building structure as set forth in claim 1 including outwardly projecting portions on the bottoms of said stories defining catwalks.

5. A multi-story building structure as set forth in claim 1 including beams in the floors of said stories in coplanar relation to the outer side walls thereof, the beams in alternate stories being in transverse relation to the beams in intermediate stories.

6. A multi-story building structure as set forth in claim 1 including beams in the floors and ceilings of said stories in coplanar relation to the outer side walls thereof, the beams in alternate stories being in transverse relation to the beams in intermediate stories.

7. A multi-story building structure as set forth in claim 1 including a top of equilateral, equiangular polygonal shape forming the root for said building, the same having triangular projections in vertical registry with and above the balconies of the topmost story of said building.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Architectural Record, Vol. 108, Issue 6, back of pp. 11 and 12.

"O FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examner. 

1. A MULT-STORY BUILDING STRUCTURE COMPOSED OF A UTILITY CORE CENTRALLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO ALL STORIES AN INCLUDING ELEVATORS SAID STAIRWAYS, A PLURALITY OF SUPERIMPOSED SOTRIES EACH OF INDENTICAL EQUILATERAL, EQUIANGULAR POLYGONAL PLAN CONFIGURATION, ALTERNATE STORIES HAVING VERTICAL OUTER SIDE WALLS IN COPLANAR RELATIONSHIP, INTERMEDATE STORIES HAVING VERTICAL OUTER SIDE WALLS ALSO IN COPLANAR RELATION BUT IN PLANES IN ANGULAR RELATION TO THE PLANES OF THE SIDE WALLS OF THE ALTERNATE STORIES, THE ANGULARITY OF OFFSETTING FOR AN ARTICULATED EFFECT BEING DETERMINED BY THE MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION 360/2S, WHEREIN S EQUALS THE NUMBER OF SIDES PER STORY, WHEREBY TO PROVIDE IN EACH STORY EQUAL TRIANGULAR PROJECTING CORNER BALCONY PORTIONS WITH THE PROJECTING TRIANGULAR CORNER BALCONY PORTIONS OF ALTERNATE STORIES IN VERTICAL REGISTRY THROUGHOUT THE HEIGHT OF THE STURCTURE AND THE PROJECTING TRIANGULAR CORNER BALCONY PORTIONS OF INTERMEDIATE STORIES LIKEWISE IN VERTICAL REGISTRY. 